Gearing for washing-machines.



N0. 7l|,534. 4 f v H. SAWYER. GEARINGFOR WASHING MACHINES.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1902.)

Patented-"Oct. 2|, 1902;

(No Model.)

the appended claims.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY SAWYER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

GEARING FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 711,534, dated October 21, 1902. Application filed April 11, 1902. Serial No. 102,340. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY SAWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Gearing for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention'relates to gearing for washing-machines.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of gearing for washing-machines which is simple and efficient and wherein the speed and load are rendered as nearly uniform as possible.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially,in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts,,all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accom panying drawings, and finally pointed out in Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is aview in plan of a construction of gearing for washing-machines embracing the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached detail view, partly in diagram, illustrating a slightly-modified arrangement of operating-gear embraced within the scope of my invention. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating another modified construction employing a reciprocating rack and embraced within the spirit and sco'peof my invention. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a construction embodying the principles of my invention with reference to securing uniform speed or uniformity in the load.

It is customary inapparatus of this nature to employ a stirring-shaft suitably mounted within a tub or other receptacle and to impart rotary. movement to said shaft through gearing, and various forms of gearing have been devised for efiecting the proper actuation of the stirrer-shaft. In apparatus of this nature the load upon-the driving mechanism is of course proportional to the speed of rotary movement imparted to the stirringshaft, which does the work. Where the driving mechanism includes a crank movement, the rotary movement imparted to the stirringshaft is greatest when the crank is passing its quarter, and such speed drops to zero as the crank is passing its dead-centers. Consequently a variation in speed of the stirringshaft from zero to its maximum occurs twice during each complete revolution of the rotating part which drives the crank, and since the load is proportional to the speed of the stirring-shaft it is obvious that a variation of load is imposed upon the driving mechanism from zero to maximum twice during each complete revolution of the rotating part which drives the crank. I

It is the special purpose of the present invention to provide a form of gearing in which this variation in speed and load is reduced and wherein the speed,and consequently also the load,is rendered as nearly uniform as possible throughout the stroke of the driving crank. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

reference-sign A designates a tub or other receptacle; B, the stirrer-shaft; O, the handism from which the stirrer-shaft Bis operated. In the form shown in Fig. l I employ a rocking segment D, to which oscillations are imparted from a rotating part of the driving mechanismas, for instance, a gear-wheel E, driven fromthe hand-wheel C:or in any other suitable manner -as, for instance,

' wheel or other device of the driving mechanthrough an intermeshing bevel-gear F. A

connecting-link G is pivotally connected at one end to rocking segment D and at the other end eccentrically upon the face of gear E.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the maximum speed of rocking movement of segment D occurs when the eccentric connection of link G on drive-gear E is passing its quarters. It will also be seen that this speed reduces to zero when said eccentric connection is passing its dead-centers, and such a form of' gearing correspondingly imparts variations in speed to the stirrershaft, and consequently corresponding variations in the load are imposed upon the driving mechanism. objection and to render the speed and load as nearly uniform as possible, I employ an eccentric pinion H upon the stirrer-shaft B, with which meshes gear-teeth formed on rocking segment D, the relation of the parts he In order to overcome-this ing such that the teeth on the large side of pinion H or farthest from shaft 13 are in action when the segment is in the central position and the pin on gear E is on the quarters. In the particular form shown in Fig. 1 the teeth on rocking segment D are internal teeth, and it is therefore necessary that they be formed on a curve somewhat sharper than if struck from the center about which segment D oscillates in order that segment and pinion may always be perfectly in mesh. By employing an eccentrically mounted gear H upon the stirrer-shaft I am enabled tocompensate to a material degree for the variations in speed produced by the eccentric connection of link G in passing its quarters and centers, and hence reduce the variations in speed of the stirrer-shaft, and consequently also of the load. This principle may be applied in many other specifically different ways. For instance, in Fig. 2 the rocking segment D is provided with spur-teeth on the end thereof instead of internal teeth. In other respects the arrangement may be the same as that above set forth, the objectionable variations in speed being prevented by employing an eccentric gear or pinion H upon the stirrer-shaft. In the form shown in Fig. 2, wherein spur-teeth are formed on rocking segment D, itis necessary that the line of such teeth, if curved, be straighter than concentric with respect to the center upon which the rocking segment swings, and, in fact, as I have shown in Fig. 2, this line may be a perfectly straight line. Instead of employing an oscillating segment, as in the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I may employ a reciprocating rack-bar D (see Fig. 3,) adapted to be reciprooated by a crank motion in the same manner that the oscillatory movements are imparted to the segment-racks D D of the constructions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rackbar D being suitably guided, as indicated, by a pin or roller J, operating in a slot or opening K in said bar. The rack-bar D is provided with rack-teeth L, arranged to intermesh With the eccentric driving-pinion H on stirrer Bin the same manner as above explained with reference to the constructions of Figs. 1 and 2, the eccentric relation of pinion H with respect to the stirrerB, upon which it is mounted, accomplishing the desired purposes. It is obvious that the eccentricity of pinion H may be produced and formed in any suitable or convenient manner, and it is not necessary that this pinion be a circular pinion, with its center offset from the center of rotation of shaft B, upon which it is mounted, butthe pinion itself may be irregularly shaped, as will be obvious. The engaging gear-teeth, which intermesh with the teeth of pinion II, should be so shaped and formed as to maintain proper meshing relation with the eccentric pinion throughout the operation of the device, the essential feature being in this respect that the rack or segment teeth and pinion must always remain in proper mesh with each other.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated in diagram the Operation wherein reference-sign a designates a base-line the length of which corresponds to one complete revolution of drivinggear E, for instance. The line b designates the average speed or load. In each revolution of the driving-gear there are two points of no speed or load and two points of maximum speed or load. The points of no load are designated by reference-signs c, d, and e, and.

the points of maximum speed or load by reference-signsfand g, and the dotted line 0 f d g 6 represents the variations of speed or load at different positions of the eccentric pin on driving gear E when the driving-shaft is operated by a pinion concentric with the stirrer-shaft B in the ordinary manner. When, however, an eccentric driving-pinion such as is embraced within my invention is employed and the eccentricity of which compensates for the variations in speed, the loops of the curve above indicated are dampenedor flattened out, and a diagrammatic illustration of the proper curve is indicated in full line h of the diagram of Fig. 4. This diagram is approximately correct for the proportions of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 1; but it is obvious that by varying the eccentricity of pinion H the load-curve h may be still further varied. Thus by increasing the eccentricity of said pinion Hthe curve h will be still more flattened out in the loops thereof, so as to more nearly approach a condition of uniform speed or load. This diagram is intended to illustrate graphically the character of the change secured in a construction embodying the principles of my invention rather than to represent accurately the amount of change that can be secured. By bringing the actual load at different points in the cycle of movement nearer to the average load imposes a steady load upon the operating or driving handle, and consequently makes .it much less fatiguing to operate the machine. Moreover, it also avoids the necessity for the employment of a heavy fly-wheel, a lighter one being suflicient, thus saving in material, and consequently in the cost of construction and transportation.

In order to facilitate and insure the proper assembling of the parts and with the pinion and segment in desirable relation and relative positions, I provide a large tooth M at any convenient point in one of the intermeshing elements and adapted to intermesh with an enlarged seat N in the other. In this manner the parts may be brought into proper relative positions quickly and easily and insured in such relative positions, the large tooth M and seat or recess N being so relatively arranged that when they intermesh with each other the pinion and its opcrating-rack are in proper operating relation with respect to each other.

Having now set forth the object and-nature of my invention and various constructions embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gearing for washing-machines, the combination with a stirrer-shaft, of a driving mechanism therefor, including a crank-motion, and an eccentric pinion, all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth, whereby the speed and power required to operate said shaft is rendered uniform throughout the stroke of the crank-motion.

2. In a gearing for washing-machines, a stirring-shaft, an eccentric pinion mounted thereon and means intermeshing with said pinion,and a driving-crank for said intermeshing means, all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth, whereby the speed and power required to operate said shaft is rendered uniform throughout the stroke of said driving-crank.

3. In a gearing for washing-machines, a stirrer-shaft, a driving mechanism therefor, including a movable part having teeth, a rotating part for actuating said moving part, eccentric connections between said rotating part and moving part, and an eccentric pinion mounted on said shaft and engaged by the gear on said movable part, whereby the speed and power required to operate said shaft is rendered uniform throughout the stroke of said eccentric connections, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a gearing for washing-machines, a stirrer-shaft, an operating-wheel, a movable part, eccentric connections between said movable part and drive-wheel, and an eccentricgearing connection interposed between said movable part and stirrer-shaft, all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth, whereby the speed and power required to operate said shaft is rendered uniform throughout the stroke of said eccentric connections.

5. In a gearing for washing-machines, a stirrer-shaft, an eccentric pinion mounted thereon, apivotally-mounted segment having gear-teeth arranged to intermesh with said eccentric pinion, a driving-wheel and alink connected at one end to said segment and at the other end eccentrically to said driving-wheel,

all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth, whereby the speed and power required to operate said shaft is rendered uniform throughout the stroke of said link.

6. In a gearing for Washing-machines, a stirrer-shaft, an eccentric pinion mounted thereon, a pivotally-mounted segment having internal gear-teeth arranged to intermesh with said eccentric pinion, a drive-wheel, a link connected at one end to said segment and at the other end eccentrically to said drive-wheel, all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth, whereby the speed and power required to operate said shaft is rendered uniform throughout the stroke of said link.

7. In a gearing for washing-machines, a stirring-shaft, driving mechanism therefor including a crank-motion, intermeshing eccentric gearing interposed between said stirringshaft and crank-motion and operating to compensate for variations in speed due to said crank-motion, all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

'8. In a gearing for washing-machines, a movable part having gear-teeth, a stirrershaft, an eccentric pinion mounted thereon and intermeshing with the teeth of said movable p'art,'one of these parts provided with an enlarged tooth arranged to intermesh with a corresponding seat'or recess in the other of said parts, whereby said parts may be readily assembled in proper relation with respect'to each other, all combined and arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a gearing for washing-machines, 'a stirring-shaft, an eccentric pinion mounted thereon, and a reciprocating member meshing with and driving said pinion, all combined and arranged as and'for the purpose set forth, whereby the speed and power required to operate said shaft is rendered uniform'throughout the stroke of said'reciproeating member.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set'my hand, this 8th day of April,'1902, in the pres ence of the subscribing witnesses.

HARRY SAWYER.

Witnesses:

J. L. HAGA, T. C. AKIN. 

